Swimming Hard, Setting Records
November 05, 2010 09:36 AM | General
MORGANTOWN, W. Va. – Most elite athletes start training in their respective sport at a young age using time, hard work and physical growth to propel their careers forward. For West Virginia University senior Lyn Ann Nelson, however, the opposite has proven true.
A latecomer to competitive swimming, Nelson began her swimming career at age 15 after suffering an injury while participating in track and field. Having originally used swimming to counterbalance her workouts in both track and cross country, it was an easy and natural transition for Nelson to switch her focus to swimming.
The Omaha, Neb., native put together an impressive resume in high school, earning All-America honors in the 200 free in 2006, and placing second and third in the 500 free and 200 free respectively, during the Nebraska State Championships as a senior. A four-year letterwinner at Harry A. Burke High, Nelson was eager to start a collegiate career.
Despite her impressive high school resume, however, only a few Division I colleges and universities recruited Nelson. After careful consideration, the University of North Florida was ultimately her choice.
“They were very interested while recruiting me and it helped that it was near the beach,” she said with a laugh. “The coaching staff was a very good fit for me and at that point in my swimming career it was a good place for me to go.”
Nelson’s instincts proved right as she dominated the pool in her first season with the Ospreys. As a freshman, she accrued 17 first-place finishes, set University of North Florida records in the 1000 free and 500 free, and was named all-CCSA in the 200 free after taking first place at the CCSA (Coastal Collegiate Swimming Association) Championships.
She would surpass those achievements as a sophomore, being named all-CCSA in the 100 free, 200 free, 500 free and 400 medley relay while breaking four individual school records and three relay records.
“It was really cool to be that successful and have the chance to continue being that successful year after year,” Nelson admitted. “I loved the anticipation of wondering what race I was going to be able to swim and how fast I was going to be able to go and if I would get the chance to break another record.”
Despite yet another solid year as a junior where she experienced more growth and gained more accolades by finishing first in the 500 free at the CCSA Championships, and second in the 200 free and 1650 free, Nelson had a serious choice to make at the end of the season. The swimming program at North Florida was going to be cut at the end of the year, and she could either attend the university during her senior year for class only, or transfer and continue her swimming career.
“The program was going to be cut, and there were also administrative issues,” she commented. “I had a choice to swim my senior season, or be done swimming. I decided to transfer so I could pursue my career.”
“I was given the opportunity to take a trip to WVU,” she continued. “I really liked his style of coaching, his motivations, and how excited he was about swimming.”
So far, Nelson has made the transition into the Mountaineer program with ease. In a season opening loss to Penn State, she took first in her favorite event, the 200 free, while placing fourth in the 100 free. A week later, she again took first place in the 200 free at Marshall.
“I think that the women are really coming together as a team and we’re swimming pretty well. We’re going to face some challenges, but I think that we’re all capable of handling them. My individual season is also starting off pretty well. Once again, there are going to be some challenges but we can all perform well,” she said.
The Mountaineers travel to Louisville this weekend to take on the Cardinals at the Wright Natatorium on Friday. Nelson will be swimming in the 200 medley relay, the 400 free relay, and the 200 free and the 100 free. Long hours spent in the WVU Natatorium have helped prepare her for this weekend’s upcoming challenge.
“In practice, I really think about the things I want to accomplish,” she said. “The goals in the back of my mind help me focus and work hard in practice. I know that Vic (Riggs) is going to put up a set or workout that’s going to help us achieve what we want to achieve, our goals.”
A latecomer to competitive swimming, Nelson began her swimming career at age 15 after suffering an injury while participating in track and field. Having originally used swimming to counterbalance her workouts in both track and cross country, it was an easy and natural transition for Nelson to switch her focus to swimming.
The Omaha, Neb., native put together an impressive resume in high school, earning All-America honors in the 200 free in 2006, and placing second and third in the 500 free and 200 free respectively, during the Nebraska State Championships as a senior. A four-year letterwinner at Harry A. Burke High, Nelson was eager to start a collegiate career.
Despite her impressive high school resume, however, only a few Division I colleges and universities recruited Nelson. After careful consideration, the University of North Florida was ultimately her choice.
“They were very interested while recruiting me and it helped that it was near the beach,” she said with a laugh. “The coaching staff was a very good fit for me and at that point in my swimming career it was a good place for me to go.”
Nelson’s instincts proved right as she dominated the pool in her first season with the Ospreys. As a freshman, she accrued 17 first-place finishes, set University of North Florida records in the 1000 free and 500 free, and was named all-CCSA in the 200 free after taking first place at the CCSA (Coastal Collegiate Swimming Association) Championships.
She would surpass those achievements as a sophomore, being named all-CCSA in the 100 free, 200 free, 500 free and 400 medley relay while breaking four individual school records and three relay records.
“It was really cool to be that successful and have the chance to continue being that successful year after year,” Nelson admitted. “I loved the anticipation of wondering what race I was going to be able to swim and how fast I was going to be able to go and if I would get the chance to break another record.”
Despite yet another solid year as a junior where she experienced more growth and gained more accolades by finishing first in the 500 free at the CCSA Championships, and second in the 200 free and 1650 free, Nelson had a serious choice to make at the end of the season. The swimming program at North Florida was going to be cut at the end of the year, and she could either attend the university during her senior year for class only, or transfer and continue her swimming career.
“The program was going to be cut, and there were also administrative issues,” she commented. “I had a choice to swim my senior season, or be done swimming. I decided to transfer so I could pursue my career.”
“I was given the opportunity to take a trip to WVU,” she continued. “I really liked his style of coaching, his motivations, and how excited he was about swimming.”
So far, Nelson has made the transition into the Mountaineer program with ease. In a season opening loss to Penn State, she took first in her favorite event, the 200 free, while placing fourth in the 100 free. A week later, she again took first place in the 200 free at Marshall.
“I think that the women are really coming together as a team and we’re swimming pretty well. We’re going to face some challenges, but I think that we’re all capable of handling them. My individual season is also starting off pretty well. Once again, there are going to be some challenges but we can all perform well,” she said.
The Mountaineers travel to Louisville this weekend to take on the Cardinals at the Wright Natatorium on Friday. Nelson will be swimming in the 200 medley relay, the 400 free relay, and the 200 free and the 100 free. Long hours spent in the WVU Natatorium have helped prepare her for this weekend’s upcoming challenge.
“In practice, I really think about the things I want to accomplish,” she said. “The goals in the back of my mind help me focus and work hard in practice. I know that Vic (Riggs) is going to put up a set or workout that’s going to help us achieve what we want to achieve, our goals.”
Alumni Series | Violet Hewett
Friday, May 01
SWIM: What it Means to Represent West Virginia
Wednesday, April 29
SWIM: What it Means to Become a Mountaineer
Wednesday, April 29
Gold-Blue Spring Festival Fan Recap
Sunday, April 19
